Steering-wheel lock



Nov.k17, 1925. 1,562,177

l.. c. LAzl-:AR ET Al.

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Nov. 17, 1925-. 1,562,177

L. c. LAzl-:AR .Er Al.

STEERING WHEEL LOCK Patented Nov.l 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY C. LAZEAR AND FRANK S. LAZEAR, 0F CHICAGO, vILLINOIS.

STEERING-WHEEL Look.

Application led May 23, 1921.r Serial No. 471,783.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, LEROY C. LAZEAR and FRANK S. LAZEAR, both citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Steering-Wheel Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has to do with steering wheels for automobiles, motor boats, etc., and is particularly concerned with means for interlocking the Wheel to the post having lconnection with a steering apparatus, and with means byA which this interlocking connection may be disestablished to render the steering'wheel inoperative; more particularly the present Wheel is adapted to Ford cars, although its use need not be restricted to such application.

Various forms of steering Wheel locks'for automobiles and the like have heretofore been devised, usually involving the attachment of certain unsightly parts to the steering Wheel or to the post upon which it is mounted. Such steering wheel locks, furthermore, are relatively complicated and oftentimes ineffectual, in that they perform inadequately their intended functions. In addition tothe disadvantages just mentioned, it is usually not difficult for an unauthorized person to pick or'tamper with the locks sov provided, inl consequence yof which no real protection is afforded.

Our Vimproved steering wheel provides a connection with theV post which is entirely concealed, so that the wheel remains substantially the same in appearance as others 'commonly in use; it includes means, however, by which the Wheel may be readily rendered operative or inoperative as desired. It is furthermore simple and positive in its action, and retains Within its own body practically all the operative elements necessary to effect the desired locking and unlocking actions, so that it is practically immune from tampering. These and other objects of our invention will more fully hereinafter appear from the specification and claims to follow, and from the accompanying draw ings in Whichc Figure 1 is a vertical section through the central'portion of a steering wheel constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section therethrough taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the parts being related as when movedE to locking posilocking partsv move v Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and side views, rel spectively, of the pinion ring; and y Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view` of the cap nut. y 'y v y Inasmuch as the parts special to -this invention are located centrallyof the wheel,

we have deemed it sufficient toillustrateonly this portion. Accordingly there isA shown the inner ends of the Wheel spokeswhich Y may conveniently Ybe four. in number, and which extendr outwardlyfas far as desired to support a circular rim (not shown). The Wheel is adapted forfoperative lconnection with a hub 11 that is made fast to the upper end of theA steering post 12 which, in the form shown in Figs. 1`and 3, `follows the construction that is used with automobiles of the YFord make. v On the end of sucha post is a threaded extremity 15 of reduced diameter adapted to receive thereonL a lock nut 1G. The hub'll which is arranged to fit upon a post so formed is connected nonrotatably therewith by any suitable means which we do not deem necessary to illus,

trate.

Associated', with the upper end of the steering post is a boX 25 from whose cover 26 extends upwardlya neck 14 whose upper end is rounded as at 13 toform a shoulder.

Resting upon the shoulder is a flange 21* 'cushion the parts against rattle a gasket 27v may be interposed between the sleeve and cap and the neck and cover, as shown in Fig. l. scribed, the lock nut 16 and hub ll cooperate with the sleeve 20 to prevent access to the gear box orits removal from the post. It will be noted that the'several spokes of the wheel are merged into its central poryion which is hollowed to receive the hub and the vvarious locking 'elements that co-operate therewith. This space'in the wheel center opens'onto .its upper side to facilitate its manufacture and' the assembly of the locking parts, and may be cl'osel by means of a ring plate 230v/nich is adapted to rest upon a seat 3l formed by shouldering` the walls surrounding the space that is provided centrally within the wheel. As by means of rivets 82 this plate `80 is secured permanently in place. The ring plate is centrally apertured and provided with threads to receive a cap nut which overlies the lock i nut 16.

adjacent this head provide a raceway for balls' 36 .which are carried in rannular retainers 37, one above and the other below the head. The lower;retainer isadapted to l: rest within a seat 38 formed inthe walls of the wheel, while the upper retainer is engagedv by an appropriately` formed wall 39 which is formed on the cap nut 83. Nhen the nut is screwed to the desired position, this wall 39'will exertpressurey upon the balls such as to prevent rocking of the wheel upon the post without impairing its rotary movements thereupon.

The means thus far described provide a mounting for the wheel such that it may freely revolved upon the post, but without the possibility of removal therefrom, unless the cap and lock nuts be first taken off. The mechanism by which the wheel i effects an interlock with the steering post,

through' the medium of the hub 11 which is iminovably secured thereto,will now be described in detail. Preferably this includes a guide frame 44k such as is shown in Fig. y5 having a circular portion which is adapted tol surround thehub head and from which extend on diametrically oppo-4 By virtue of the arrangement def site sides walls which form radial guideways 45 within each of which is mounted a slidable locking bolt 46 (see Figs. 2 and 6). A third radial guideway 47 is also provided being disposed about midway between the other two, and by preference the walls of the wheel adjacent the frame are formed to provide a seat within which the frame may lie without movement. guideway 47 is arranged a slide bolt 48 provided withv actuating means therefor which, according to the construction shown, consists kof a lever 49 connected therewith and pivoted as at 50 to the ring frame 44, a spring being provided and so arranged as normally to urge the slidel bolt 48 inwardly toward the center of the wheel.. This lever may, however,`be used to retract the slide bolt, and to assist in this action, we have provided a key-controlled lock 5l Within the containing the usual rotatable cylinder 52 at the rear end of which is a circular cam that is adapted to bearupon the lever so as to cause its retraction against the tension of the spring 50' to thereby shift the slide bolt 48 away fromthe center of the 'i wheel. These movements are controlled solely through the medium of a proper key which can operate only when inserted in the lock so provided.

'Co-operatingwith the locxing parts just described is a pinion ring 60'having parallel slots 61 arranged on diametrically opposite sides, each slot being extended from near its inner to its outer wall (see Figs.

6 and 7) to ypresent in effect a cam. Within Aeach of these slots isdisposed a pin 62 that is carried by the' proximate locking bolt 46, the relation being such that when the pinion ring ismoved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that which is indi- "7"'-4 cated in F ig. 6, the locking bolts will beV outwardly shifted in unison, thereby withdrawing from recesses 63 that are formed in opposite sides of -the hub head. The means for revolving the pinion ring may comprise a plurality of teeth 65 with which mesh other teeth' 66 formed on a controller 67 which is carried by a shaft 68 vthat extends through tothe undei' side of the wheel where it is equipped with an operating finger piece 69 such as is shown in Fig. 8. As by means of a spring 70 whose opposite ends are connected to a ,fixed part of the wheel and to the controller 67, this latter part is normally caused to revolve in a direction which moves the pinion ring 60 to the position which is shown in Fig. 2 where it will be noted that the locking bolts are in engaging relation with the hub.

in order that the locking bolts when retracted from engaging position may be so trol the steering apparatus.

vthe

inwhich lis a recess 76 adapted to receive the acting end ofthe slide bolt 48. V This Wall 76laps into the plane of the guide frame 44 andr is adapted to move Within an arc-shaped recess 77 that lis formed onits inner periphery. When the recess 76 is aligned with the guideway 47, the slide bolt 48 may enter therein, but at other times the Wall 75 is presented to the acting end of the slide bolt such as to hold the same retracted Where it may not interfere with rotary movements of the pinion ring. A'head80 is further formed on the slide bolt which upstands adjacent the under side of the cap nut, and co-operating with this head are a plurality of radially disposed slots 81 formed on the under side ofthe cap nut around its periphery. lVhen in advanced position the slide bolt may present its head Within one of these slots 8l so as to prevent turning of the cap nut. From this construction it results that access to the parts interiorly ofthe Wheel may no't be gained through removal of the cap nut Whenever the locking bolts are disengagedl from the hub, or, in other Words, Whenever the Wheel is inoperatively related to the steering post.

The operation of the parts heretofore described may be brieiy summed up as follows: The single spring 70, Working through the pinion ring 60, acts to Vmove both locking bolts 46 to engaging position, and when the parts are so related they may not be disturbed except by turning the finger piece'. 69. Vhen this part has been rotated, "however, both locking bolts are Withdrawn infunison from engagement with the hub, this beingaccomplished through the sliding of the pins 62 Within the cam slots 6l, and as an incident to this movement the recess 76 presents itself before the acting end of the slide bolt 48 which thereupon springs forward to prevent the parts from being returned to their previous positions. The Wheel is now inoperative to con- To restore the operativeness of the Wheel, the proper key must be iirst applied to the lock 51 Whose cam 53 may then be moved into engagement'l with the lever 49 to retracty the slide bolt 48.y As soon as this is Withdrawn from the recess 76, the spring 7 O acts upon the pinion ring to return both locking bolts 46 to locking position Within the hub recesses Whenever the Wheel is revolved to the required position to permit this relationing of parts.

It will be noted that the Wheel chamber for the locking part-s extends slightly With.- in each of the spokes. To further "protect the parts enclosed Within the chamber so formed, We have shown hardened steel plates 85, 86 and 87 inserted respectively ymithin the body of the Wheel, the ring plate, and the cap nut, each disposed to frustrate access to'the rvWheel interior through the use of some such tool as a drill, chisel, or the like. VIn thevcase of the insert plate '85 which is located on the under side of the Wheel, it Will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 that it is formed With Walls 88 Which provide an enclosure for the locking parts on every side but the top, the remaining inserts 86 and 87, which are carried in the ring lplate and cap, supplementing the base plate to afford complete protection. `By means such asl this, We have rendered the Ehel 'lock secure against tamperingof any 1n i l It` is desirable from the standpoint of Wheel should lock tothe hub, rather than to the post directly. The effect, however, is the same Whether a? hub be used,^or Whether the post be Vslotted to receive the ends of a clutch plate. It is vto be con-` sidered that there is y.equivalency in such constructions, and the claims hereto appended are to be interpreted accordingly.

' We claim: n s

l. lIn combination with a steering post, a Wheel carried thereby, means for locking the Wheelto the post comprising a pair of locking bolts'on opposite sides of the Wheel arranged to move toward and from the post to engage therevvitlnand means for Withdrawing the locking bolts from engaging position comprising a member mounted for rotation co-axially of the Wheel having a`100 cam connection With each, substantially-'as described.

2. In combination With a steering post, a

Wheel carried thereby and formed centrally With a chamber VWhich opens onto one side of the wheel, a hub arranged centrally of the Wheel and adapted to be lookedy to the post, an annular head on the hub providing upper and lovver shoulders, balls arranged on each shoulder, a retainer for the balls on each shoulder, a shoulder Within the Wheel chamber-on which one ball retainer is rested, locking means carried by the Wheel adapted to engage with the hub, a lock ,nut

screwed to the post and overlying the hub,

and cap nut arranged to close the opening in' the Wheel side and to bear upon thev Aball retainer proximate thereto, the cap nut being adjustable to vary the degree of pressure upon saidiball retainer, substantially `v chamber including a hub having a fixed 125 attachment to the post, therebeing a notch on opposite sidesof the hub, a circular frame surrounding the hub and formed to provide radial guideways which align with the recesses in the hub, va locking bolt slid- 80 manufacturing and assembling that a hub be secured to the steering post and that'the ably mounted in each guideway, a third guidewaylarranged intermediate the -other two and extending radially from the circular frame, a slide bolt in the third guideway, a pinion ring arranged adjacent the guide frame, a cam connection between the mally project the slide bolt intov engagement with such means on the pinion ring', a keycontrolled cam device operatively related to the slide bolt adapted to retract the same, and spring means acting to rotate the pinion ring to project the locking bolts toward the hub when the slide bolt is retracted, substantially as described.

4f. In combination with a steering post, a wheel carried thereby and having a chamber formed centrally therein, the walls ot the wheel surrounding the chamber being formed to provide a seat, a ring plate ar.- ranged in said seat, threads formed within the ringaperture, neans tor fixedly securing the ring plate to the wheel, means within'the wheel chamber adapted to lock the wheel to the post, and a cap nut screwed into the ringplate to close the chamber within the wheel whereby the locking means there- Vwithin are enclosed, substantially` as described. y y

5. In combination with a steering post, a wheel lcarried thereby and Yformed with a central aperture which opens on one side thereof, a hub locked to the post and having an annular head with shoulders adjacent its upper and lower sides, means within the wheel co-operating with the lower rshoulder to form an anti-friction connection therewith, means within the wheel i chamber adapted to lock the wheel against rotation relative to the hub, a ring plate secured to the wheel upon its open .side to partially close the same, meansiior securing said ring plate ixedly in position, a cap nut threaded into said ring plate, and an anti-friction connection between said cap nut and the upper shoulder of the hub, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a steering post, a wheel carried thereby and provided with a chamber centrally therewithin, means withing the wheel adapted to lock with the post, a manually operated device for unlocking the wheel from the post, and means *for restoring said lock including a key-controlled element with which is associated a cam, a

spring actuated lever, and a slide bolt whose' movements in one direction are controlled by the lever spring and in the other direction by the counter action of the cam associated with the key-controlled device, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a steering post, a wheel carried thereby, means for locking the wheel to the post, comprising a pair of locking bolts on opposite sides of the wheel arranged to move. toward and from the post to engage therewith, means for withdrawing the locking bolts from engaging position comprising a member mounted for rotation co-axially of the wheel and having a cam connection with each, and other means adapted to co-operate with the rotatable member to thereby hold the locking bolts against movement, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a vsteering post, a wheel carried thereby, means for locking the wheel to the post comprising a locking bolt arranged to move toward and from the post to engage therewith,`a cam device mounted for rotation co-axially of the wheel and connected with the locking bolt adapted to move the same in either direction, a spring associated wtih the cam device normally acting to move the locking bolt in one direction, and manually operated means for ,moving the locking bolt against the tension of the spring, substantially as described.

9. In combination with a steering post, a wheel carried thereby, means forvlocking the wheel to the post comprising a locking bolt arranged to move toward and from the post to therewith, a slide bolt associated with the locking bolt `for holding` the latter in retracted position, and means for, retracting the slide Abolt comprising a spring actuated lever connected therewith. and a keycontrolled cam device operatively related to die lever, substantially as described.

ill). ln combination with a steering post, a .vheel carried thereby, means for locking the wheel to the post comprising a locking bolt arranged to move toward and from the post to therewith, a cam device mounted for rotation co-axially oi"y the wheel and for moving the locking bolt in oneJ direction, and spring means working through the cam device for moving the locking bolt in the other direction, substantially as described.

ll. ln combination with a steering post, a spolred wheel carried thereby, there being a chamber formed centrally of the wheel and extending partially into the spokes thereof, and locking elements mounted within the wheel chamber, one of the walls of the wheel adjacent thefehamber being cut away to provide thereinto an opening formed with a seat, and means for closing said opening comprising a ring plate secured in the seat and a cap nut screwed into the ring plate, substantially as described.

l2. In combination With a steering post, a Wheel carried thereby formed centrally with a chamber which is open on the upper wheel sde n the center region thereof, locking means arranged Within the wheel chamber adapted to engage With the post, means for shlftlng the lookmg means mto engagmg or dsengaging position relative to the post, a cap screw-threaded into the opening n the upper Wheel side to thereby protect the 10 parts interorlythereof, and a connection between the cap Wheel Vand locking means LEROY o. LAZEAR. FRANK s. LAZEAR.v 

